The Minoan Overnight Ferry Between Italy and Greece

Following the Porto signs, the Ticket Office is signed off to the left at the last roundabout, a mile before the port. With no number plate recognition here, ferry passengers must go to check in personally before entering the port. There is plenty of space to park by the ticket office, which has café and toilets, and I join the Minoan Lines queue, clutching passports and booking reference. Though it's a perfectly calm day for the Adriatic crossing, the 'Cruise Olympia' ferry is apparently late arriving from Greece and our departure will be 6 pm rather than 5.30 pm.

After a pot of tea we drive round to join the disorganised confusion of trucks milling around Gate 15 – and wait, and wait, and wait. Chatting with the only other British motorist (Ian, driving a hired van), we are the last two vehicles to be waved on. The ferry finally sails at 7 pm and we head for the self-service cafeteria with mediocre over-priced food. The inside cabin is spacious (2 beds, not bunks), though too hot for a comfortable night's sleep.